The 49-year-old qualified as a nurse in 2002 and became a midwife two years later. A coincidence of timing (plus a little gentle badgering of her bosses at the hospital where she works) allowed her to take charge of the deliveries.

It is probably fair to say opinion among those about to give birth is divided between women who would love their mother to be present, and those who could think of nothing worse.

Mum-of-three Jude said: 'Births don't always go according to plan, but fortunately they were all nice, normal deliveries'

Her first child Jac, now ten, was born after an emergency Caesarean as complications threatened them both.

She was not expected to have her second child naturally – but Jude got the call to say she was in labour as she headed off to her first day at work at University Hospital of Wales, near the family home outside Cardiff.

Jude said: ‘I rushed to be with her as a mum but she asked my supervisor if I could be her midwife. My boss said I could, so I did. My beautiful granddaughter was born without any complications.’